When I invented the new breed of circulator flanges and valves in the 1990s, I did so with quality driving the design, not price. My first isolation flange prototype was actually fashioned from a Taco, Inc. 3/4″ threaded bronze flange that was machined to press-fit with a machined 3/4″ Apollo copper ball valve.

I licensed these flange and valve inventions to Taco in 1999. 6 weeks after Taco filed for a “Utility” patent on my behalf, Webstone Valves’ Michael Reck applied for a provisional patent, then 2 weeks later filed another provisional patent application on modifications of my designs and started advertising them for sale in numerous trade journals. Reck failed to provide the United States Patent Office with “all known prior art” (mine) and was successful in getting a patent of very similar valve design.

What became the standard fare in the trade for isolation flanges for circulators, has everything to do with a race-to-the-bottom in price for manufacture of designs that appeal to tradesmen in price range. This desire for lowest manufacturing cost has lead to compromises in construction that result in leaking and downright dangerous valves.

These valves are Watts isolation flanges that leak, yet they were installed on 9/30/05.

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Here is the YouTube video of the valve leaking out the packing o-ring around the valve stem. In the video I mistakenly identified the leaking valves as Webstone. They are in fact Watts’ isolation flanges; not Webstone.

To replace the leaking Watts valves s in this threaded steel and iron supply and return primary/secondary manifold piping will involve a full day of re-piping with copper. There are no quality isolation flanges on the market, but my latest inventions address this issue.

Here is a PVF Limited (FW Webb) low-quality valve that literally exploded out the end of a high pressure pipe. I was allowed to take these pictures by an employee at FW Webb, in Exeter, NH. He told me the valve almost took a female worker’s head off when it let go. He also told me that Webb has redesigned their foreign valves so they won’t explode.

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This is my 1st isolation flange fashioned with a Taco threaded bronze flange and an Apollo copper ball valve.

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Here are my proprietary valve innovations all constructed with Apollo ball valve components – I just designed the valve bodies.

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I know there has been a mass defection by manufacturers and tradesmen alike toward inexpensive valves made in China, but fellow tradesmen, what you are doing is contributing to the demise of the valve industry and you are doing yourselves, your trade and your customers a huge disservice that is costing everyone. Meanwhile, we are shipping U.S. jobs overseas.

Once upon a time this trade and country was about quality and pride was displayed in the products we manufactured and in the moniker: Made in America. That time has returned!

These are my latest isolation flange creations that are simply the best quality you can buy. And they are all proudly Made In America!

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Contact us if you would like a price and availability for GuruStreetFlanges, GuruStreetAccessoryTees and GuruHandles with your brand and valve designation on them.